A day-by-day plan for one week in Egypt: Cairo and Giza, a flight to Aswan, a three-night Nile cruise to Luxor and a day trip to Abu Simbel.
A good 7-day Egypt itinerary is two days in Cairo and Giza, then a flight to Aswan and three nights on a Nile cruise that ends in Luxor. Our 7 Days Pyramids of Giza and Nile Cruise program follows that plan: arrival on Day 1, Giza and two museums on Days 2 and 3, then Abu Simbel, Philae, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
Key takeaways
- Days 2 to 6 are full sightseeing days. Day 1 is arrival, and Day 7 ends with a flight to Cairo and home.
- Two museums hold different treasures. The Tutankhamun galleries are in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza (Day 2). The Royal Mummies, 17 kings and 3 queens, are in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, Cairo (Day 3).
- Day 5 is the longest day. Abu Simbel means an early start with a breakfast box and about 3 hours on the road each way.
- Three optional extras cost more: a quad-bike (ATV) ride, a Nile dinner cruise and a sunrise balloon.
The 7-day plan at a glance
| Day | Where | Main sights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairo | Airport pickup, hotel check-in, rest |
| 2 | Giza | Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza pyramids, Sphinx |
| 3 | Cairo | Royal Mummies, Citadel, Khan al-Khalili |
| 4 | Aswan | Flight, Philae Temple, Nubian village, cruise check-in |
| 5 | Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu | Abu Simbel temples, Kom Ombo Temple, sailing |
| 6 | Edfu and Luxor | Temple of Horus, Esna lock, Karnak, Luxor Temple |
| 7 | Luxor | West Bank, flight to Cairo, flight home |
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
You are met at Cairo Airport and transferred to your hotel. Hotels are chosen by budget, in the 3-, 4- or 5-star range, with a Pyramids view preferred. The rest of the day is free.
Day 2: Grand Egyptian Museum and the Giza pyramids
After a 9 am hotel pickup, the day starts at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, home of the Tutankhamun galleries. You then tour the Giza Plateau: the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Sphinx. A camel or horse ride gives a panoramic view of the nine pyramids in the area.
Optional extras cost more: an ATV ride at the Pyramids and an evening Nile dinner cruise with belly dance and tannoura (whirling dance) shows.
Day 3: Royal Mummies, the Citadel and old Cairo
The morning is at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, home of the Royal Mummies Hall. Next come the Citadel of Salah al-Din with the Muhammad Ali Mosque, then Cairo's old quarters: Khan al-Khalili bazaar, Al-Azhar Mosque (when open), El Moez Street and Fishawy Cafe, which the program calls the oldest in Cairo. Lunch is koshari, a street-food mix of rice, lentils and pasta.
Day 4: Fly to Aswan, Philae and the Nile cruise
You fly from Cairo to Aswan, then cross by ferry to Philae Temple on its island. A stop at a perfumes factory comes with a welcome drink of tea, coffee or hibiscus. You then check in to the deluxe 5-star Nile cruise ship, have lunch on board and visit a Nubian village and a crocodile house by boat. Domestic flights, this one and the Day 7 flight to Cairo, are booked separately and are not part of the program price. Our guide asks whether a Nile cruise is worth it.
Day 5: Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo and sailing to Edfu
Early in the morning, with a breakfast box ready, you drive to Abu Simbel, about 3 hours each way. Highlights are the Great Temple, with four colossal statues of Ramses II, and the Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari. As the program notes, guides explain Abu Simbel only from outside the temple. You return to the ship in the afternoon, sail from Aswan over lunch, visit Kom Ombo Temple and its Crocodile Museum near sunset, and sail on to Edfu for the night.
Day 6: Edfu, Esna and Luxor's East Bank
The morning starts with the Temple of Horus at Edfu, reached by tuk-tuk, followed by breakfast on board. The ship sails to the Esna lock and on to Luxor. Before sunset you visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, the city side of the Nile, and the evening is free to explore Luxor Market. Dinner and music are on the ship.
Day 7: Luxor's West Bank and the flight home
The optional sunrise balloon ride leaves around 4 am, with transfers included, shared with other passengers, at extra cost. After breakfast and check-out by 9 am, you visit the West Bank, where the royal tombs lie: the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon, plus a free visit to an alabaster and marble workshop. After lunch in Luxor you fly to Cairo and transfer to the international terminal for your flight home. Because this day ends with a domestic flight to Cairo, choose a later international departure. The program text notes that an extra night can be added.
Who this itinerary suits
It suits first-time visitors who want Egypt's headline sites in one week and do not mind two early starts, Abu Simbel on Day 5 and the optional balloon on Day 7. It is a fast route, with a flight at each end of the Nile section. If you are still weighing trip length, read our guides on how many days to spend in Egypt and how to choose an Egypt itinerary.
When to go
The Nile section is where the weather matters. Luxor's average daily high is 23.0°C (73°F) in January and 41.4°C (107°F) in July. Cairo is milder: 19.0°C (66°F) in January and 34.8°C (95°F) in July. Winter nights in the south are cold, with a Luxor January average low of 5.9°C (43°F), so dress warmly for a 4 am balloon. These are long-term monthly averages, not forecasts.
What to change if your plans differ
- You want to skip the Abu Simbel early start. The 7-Day Cairo and Nile Cruise Package and the 7 Days Luxury Egypt Trip use the same Cairo-Aswan-Luxor idea without Abu Simbel: Giza and a museum on Day 2, a flight to Aswan on Day 3, Philae, the High Dam, Kom Ombo and Edfu, then Luxor and a flight back to Cairo on Day 6 for a final night.
- You want desert instead of the river. The 7-Day Egypt Adventure Tour swaps Luxor and Aswan for Siwa Oasis, a remote desert oasis west of Cairo: a 4:00 AM departure and a drive of roughly ten hours, two nights in Siwa, a 4x4 trip into the Great Sand Sea, and a final Cairo day at the Citadel, Coptic Cairo and Khan al-Khalili.
- You travel at Christmas. The 7-Day Egypt Christmas Tour, Cairo and Nile Cruise follows the same seven days described above.
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Egypt?
It is enough for Cairo and Giza, Abu Simbel and a Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, which are the sites many first-time visitors come for. It is not enough to add the Red Sea, Siwa or Alexandria without cutting something.
How much does a one-week trip to Egypt cost?
The cost depends on the hotel level you choose in Cairo and the optional extras you add, so this guide quotes no prices. Entry fees change and are confirmed when booking. Ask us for a quote for your dates.
Do US citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. A single-entry tourist e-visa costs USD 30, paid by card on the official government portal. At Cairo airport, a digital visa costs USD 36 (USD 30 plus a USD 6 service fee) from August 1, 2026. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date and have one blank page.
Is the hot air balloon ride included?
No. It is optional and costs extra, and it is shared with other passengers. Our guide on whether a Luxor hot air balloon ride is worth it helps you decide.
